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Higher bail sought in fatal Kent crash

KENT - Prosecutors say a man was driving under the influence of liquor when his large sport utility vehicle went through a red light and hit a compact car, killing Richard Kelly Jr. of North Bend and injuring Kelly's wife.

Charging papers filed Jan. 27 ask that a King County Superior Court judge increase bail for Boyd P. Masini Jr. of Federal Way from $20,000 to $150,000.

Masini, 28, was arrested after the fatal accident Saturday morning in Kent and has been held in the Kent city jail. With the filing of charges he'll be transferred to the Regional Justice Center jail in Kent.

Prosecutors asked for the higher bail while charging Masini with one count of vehicular homicide in the death of Richard Kelly Jr., 24, and one count of vehicular assault for the injury of Christina Kelly, 23, who suffered an arm fracture. Masini is to be arraigned on the charges Feb. 4.

Family members say the Kellys recently began working as reservation agents at the United Airlines regional call-in center in Kent. Both were to begin a shift at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and were heading to work in their 2002 Toyota.

Christina Kelly was driving as their car headed south on the West Valley Highway shortly after 6 a.m.

Prosecutors and police say Masini, driving a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV east on South 196th Street, went through a red light and struck the passenger's side of the southbound Toyota. Richard Kelly, in the passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Christina Kelly was treated at a hospital.

The charging papers say tests found that Masini had a blood-alcohol content of 0.04 at 8:20 a.m., about two hours after the accident. About an hour later, a test showed a BAC of 0.031, court papers filed Tuesday said.

Under state law, a person with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is presumed to be intoxicated, but a Kent police officer said drivers with lower levels could be considered to be driving while impaired or under the influence.

Prosecutors say Masini drove in a reckless manner while under the influence of intoxicants. He told police he drank three pitchers of beer before the accident. He also had difficulty reciting the alphabet and performing other field sobriety tests, charging papers said.

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